Facilitating consent: whither the radical librarian? – Infoism. “It is clear to me that the role of the librarian in society is a radical one. We provide access to information in a society that is subjected to both filtered information from the media, and growing corporate control of the flow of information. With the growth of neo-liberalism, the institution of the public library has increasingly become a radical idea. After all, in a neo-liberal society, everything has its price, including information. …”

Folding shelves: E-books mean a plot twist for public libraries and publishers – Economist. Looks at e-lending and libraries, including publishers fears that unrestricted e-lending would end their business. No country has settled the matter yet. “Canada is planning a national e-lending platform, so libraries would not have to have their e-book collections hosted by third parties”. Different other models described. “One critic privately calls e-lending the “Librarian Unemployment Act of 2013”.

Four reasons to save our libraries – Book Word. Reasons are (a) they’re more than books, (b) support authors and readers (c) connect people (d) embody community and democratic values.

Leisure trusts help councils save money – Guardian / Co-operatives and Communities Hub. “”The trusts don’t fit a particular model,” he explains. “While around two-thirds are charitable companies and a third are mutuals, they’re all committed to providing facilities that are as accessible and affordable as possible for everyone.” … “The biggest in the UK is Greenwich Leisure Limited, with an annual turnover of £115m. Launched in 1993, it now manages 110 centres, mainly in London, and was responsible for managing some Olympic venues including the Aquatics Centre and the Copper Box arena. The company is increasingly operating outside the capital, with facilities in York and Oxfordshire. It is now expanding into managing libraries: it already runs 15; another 10 come on stream in April.”

Libraries good for the economy – OPB (USA). “Oregon’s state librarian says local communities and residents have an obligation to continue supporting their public libraries, and the local economy will suffer if they don’t” … “In her talk — “We Don’t Need Libraries Anymore, Do We?” — Dahlgreen will describe how libraries are leaving their old role as a place where people come to browse physical books, but will remain a vital part of local communities.”

“The big push is from collections to creations,” she said, with less emphasis on “things from authors and artists.” The new and imaginative growth areas are fan fiction and “maker spaces,” she said. Fan fiction is creative writing in response to novels, in the style of “Fifty Shades of Grey,” she explained, while maker spaces bring people together in libraries for arts, literature and crafts events.”

Library services are more than buildings, says Capita – Information Daily. Shirley Burnham argues that library buildings are intrinsically important for local communities and thus to national and local policy. Concentrating on technology and the virtual ignores this to the detriment of those who need libraries the most. Policy in several other countries is supporting libraries rather than dismantling them. Concern of private sector involvement in public libraries.

“By all means look to the future, but do not impose it on the public now or use it as a pretext for dismantling the service this year or next. It is grossly premature to discuss a “rethink in terms of what constitutes a public library” based on what are currently little more than dreams of substantial remote e-lending at a future date.”

Library: beating heart of the school – Guardian / Children’s books. “An awful lot has been written about public libraries, how they are at the centre of our communities, how they offer free books, how they provide free internet access and many other services. You know what, it is all true, but there is another temple of the book which is sometimes forgotten and that is the school library.”

Taking Part 2012/13 Quarter 3: Statistical Release: Libraries – Gov.uk. 37.4% of population has visited a library in the last year compared to 48.2% in 2005/6. Decline was sharpers until 2008/9 and has now slowed but is still downward. The number who visit once a week from 7.2% to 5.1% took a dip from 5.7% 2011/12 to only 5.1% Jan to Dec 2012.

Where is Yinnon Ezra ? – Good Library Blog. “It seems that the answer to the nation’s public library problems lie with one man who works part time for the Department of Culture and his name is Yinnon Ezra” … “So far as we can tell he must be on one of those long holidays that people in the DCMS have that seem to run from October to September, all year round – give or take a few expenses-paid conferences”

Coventry – Libraries and adult courses under threat in Coventry City Council cuts – Coventry Telegraph. “Non-statutory services are those that councils are not legal obliged to provide, and include adult education and libaries. Asked about the future for both in Coventry, Coun Kershaw said adult education was an “area that needs to be looked at”. He also said: “We have 18 libaries across the city. That’s a tremendous resource. We want to protect all 18 buildings if we possibly can. “We want to continue our work supporting adults and young people with literacy and reading.” “We want to maintain the traditional library service, but with much more joined up thinking to provide a better service.” He said efficiency savings could come from other council services, and other agencies being located in library buildings and sharing resources. The plan includes developing information services in library buildings, with expert advice in areas such as welfare claims, NHS advice, and employment support services.”

“Gateshead Libraries will be holding a free event with Reflections, an Ubisoft Studio based in Newcastle, on Saturday 6th April 10am-3pm. The day is aimed at those aged between 12 and 18 who are interested in a career in Computer Gaming. The team from Reflections will be giving talks on working as a team to create a successful computer game and delivering Design and Art workshops as well as running drop in programming activities. We will also have with us Dan Hodgson, Programme Leader BSc Games Design and Production Degree from the University of Northumbria who, along with students form the course, will be providing information about the course.” via email. For more info see here.

Newport –Protest meeting bid to save Stow Hill library – South Wales Argus. “Around 30 people were in the council chamber at the Civic Centre to discuss what action to take next in their ongoing battle to save the library which they say is a “lifeline” for many people in the area.” 822 signatures so far. £13k saving by closing library “a paltry amount”.

Southend – Council defends spending £12.5m on Forum while closing branch libraries – Southend Standard. “Contributing £12.5million towards a new central library while cutting funding from branch libraries will save money in the long term, Southend Council has said. Pooling resources with the University of Essex and South Essex College to build the new £27million Forum library, due to open on the site of the former Farringdon car park, Southend, in September, will give members of the public access to a state-of-the-art facility at less than half the cost to the taxpayer.”.

Surrey – Teenagers choose library stock in UK first project, and it’s not all about Twilight – Surrey County Council. “the teenagers have proved adept at managing the task of choosing stock. Each month they trawl a catalogue of pre-published books to come up with a list of young adult fiction titles they think will prove popular. Then with a qualified librarian the selection is whittled down to a final list that is ordered and the books appear on library shelves soon after publication.”

This entry was posted by Ian Anstice on March 22, 2013 at 9:09 pm, and is filed under Uncategorized. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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Numbers

From 1st April 2017 to end of March 2018, CIPFA reported 127 libraries lost. Since 1st April 2016 to end of March 2017. CIPFA reported 105 libraries closed, bringing the total to 3745 branches. 2015 to end of March 2016: CIPFA reported 121 libraries closed, bringing the total to 3850 libraries. In 2014/15 there was a decline of 106 public libraries, (with 260 static libraries were put under threat of closure/passing to volunteers. 9 mobile libraries under threat in the same period). .

There were 4023 in 2013/14, 4482 in 2009/10 and 4622 in 2003/4. CIpfa have calculated that 121 service points lost in 2015/16, 106 service points were lost in 2014/15, 49 were lost in 2013/14, 74 were lost in 2012/13, 201 in 2011/12, 33 in 2010/11.

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The complete list is on "Tally by Local Authority" page as are other changes to budgets such as cuts to hours, bookfund and staffing. ....
For a list of new and refurbished buildings see this page,

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